Ancient History in UPSC Mains
1. The Harappan Civilization was discovered in the year:
A) 1850
B) 1900
C) 1922
D) 1950
2. The Battle of Plassey was fought in:
A) 1756
B) 1757
C) 1760
D) 1764
3. The Indian National Congress was founded in:
A) 1884
B) 1885
C) 1886
D) 1887
4. The Quit India Movement was launched in:
A) 1942
B) 1945
C) 1946
D) 1947
5. The Mughal Empire was founded by:
A) Babur
B) Humayun
C) Akbar
D) Shah Jahan
6. The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as:
A) Harappan Civilization
B) Vedic Civilization
C) Mauryan Civilization
D) Gupta Civilization
7. The largest Indus Valley Civilization city was:
A) Mohenjo-Daro
B) Harappa
C) Lothal
D) Kalibangan
8. The Vedic Period saw the rise of:
A) Buddhism and Jainism
B) Hinduism and Sikhism
C) Brahmanism and Vedism
D) Zoroastrianism and Christianity
9. The Rigveda is:
A) A Hindu scripture
B) A Buddhist scripture
C) A Jain scripture
D) A Zoroastrian scripture
10. The Mauryan Empire was founded by:
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Ashoka the Great
C) Bindusara
D) Brihadratha
11. The Edicts of Ashoka were written in:
A) Sanskrit
B) Prakrit
C) Greek
D) Aramaic
12. The Gupta Empire is known for:
A) Conquests and military campaigns
B) Cultural and scientific achievements
C) Economic prosperity and trade
D) Administrative reforms and bureaucracy
13. The Ajanta Caves are famous for:
A) Buddhist rock-cut architecture
B) Hindu temple architecture
C) Jain cave paintings
D) Mughal palace architecture
14. The Upanishads are:
A) Hindu scriptures
B) Buddhist scriptures
C) Jain scriptures
D) Philosophical texts
15. The ancient Indian medical system of Ayurveda is attributed to:
A) Charaka
B) Sushruta
C) Vagbhata
D) Dhanvantari
16. The earliest known Indian text, the Rigveda, was composed in the:
A) 1500 BCE - 1200 BCE
B) 1200 BCE - 900 BCE
C) 900 BCE - 600 BCE
D) 600 BCE - 300 BCE
17. The Indus Valley Civilization's social structure is believed to have been:
A) Matriarchal
B) Patriarchal
C) Egalitarian
D) Caste-based
18. The Buddhist concept of "Anatta" (Anatman) refers to:
A) The eternal soul
B) The cycle of birth and death
C) The impermanence of the self
D) The ultimate reality
19. The Mauryan Emperor Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism was influenced by:
A) The Kalinga War
B) The Ujjain Council
C) The Bodh Gaya sermon
D) The Nalanda University
20. The ancient Indian philosopher Nagarjuna is associated with the school of:
A) Vaisheshika
B) Mimamsa
C) Vedanta
D) Mahayana Buddhism
21. Which of the following was a major feature of the Indus Valley Civilization?
A) Aryan invasion
B) Vedic culture
C) Urbanization
D) Feudalism
22. The Rigveda is:
A) A Hindu epic
B) A Buddhist text
C) A Vedic scripture
D) A Jain scripture
23. The Mauryan Empire was founded by:
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Ashoka the Great
C) Bindusara
D) Brihadratha
24. The Buddhist concept of "Anatta" refers to:
A) The self
B) The no-self
C) Reincarnation
D) Karma
25. The ancient Indian text that describes the "Four Stages of Life" is:
A) Manusmriti
B) Arthashastra
C) Dharmashastra
D) Ashvalayana Grhyasutra
26. The Gupta period is known as the "Golden Age" of ancient India because of:
A) Economic prosperity
B) Military conquests
C) Cultural achievements
D) All of the above
27. The Harappans used a script that has not yet been fully:
A) Deciphered
B) Translated
C) Read
D) Written
28. The Vedic god Indra is associated with:
A) The sky
B) The earth
C) The atmosphere
D) The storm god
29. The ancient Indian philosopher who propounded the theory of "Ajñana" (ignorance) as the root cause of suffering is:
A) Kapila
B) Kanada
C) Nagarjuna
D) Sanjaya
30. The famous ancient Indian medical treatise that describes the concept of "Tridosha" (three humors) is:
A) Charaka Samhita
B) Sushruta Samhita
C) Ashtanga Hridayam
D) Bhela Samhita
31. The earliest known Indian philosopher was:
A) Thiruvalluvar
B) Kapila
C) Charaka
D) Gautama Buddha
32. The concept of "Dharma" in ancient India referred to:
A) Religious duties
B) Social obligations
C) Moral order
D) All of the above
33. The ancient Indian text that describes the "Four Var nas" (social classes) is:
A) Manusmriti
B) Arthashastra
C) Dharmashastra
D) Rigveda
34. The Mauryan emperor who converted to Buddhism was:
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Bindusara
C) Ashoka the Great
D) Brihadratha
35. The ancient Indian scientist who discovered the concept of "Zero" was:
A) Aryabhata
B) Varahamihira
C) Brahmagupta
D) Bhaskara
36. The Harappan city that was known for its advanced irrigation system is:
A) Mohenjo-Daro
B) Harappa
C) Lothal
D) Dholavira
37. The Vedic god who was associated with wisdom and war is:
A) Agni
B) Indra
C) Varuna
D) Vishnu
38. The ancient Indian text that describes the "Six Schools of Philosophy" is:
A) Sarva-Darsana-Sangraha
B) Brahma-Sutras
C) Upanishads
D) Bhagavad Gita
39. The Mauryan administrator who wrote the book "Arthashastra" was:
A) Kautilya
B) Chanakya
C) Ashoka
D) Brihadratha
40. The ancient Indian medical practitioner who wrote the book "Sushruta Samhita" was:
A) Sushruta
B) Charaka
C) Vagbhata
D) Dhanvantari
41. The ancient Indian kingdom that was known for its powerful navy is:
A) Mauryan
B) Gupta
C) Satavahana
D) Chola
42. The Vedic ritual that involved the sacrifice of a horse is:
A) Ashvamedha
B) Agnistoma
C) Vajapeya
D) Rajasuya
43. The ancient Indian philosopher who propounded the theory of "Moksha" (liberation) is:
A) Kapila
B) Patanjali
C) Adi Shankara
D) Nagarjuna
44. The Mauryan emperor who built the Great Stupa of Sanchi is:
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Bindusara
C) Ashoka the Great
D) Brihadratha
45. The ancient Indian text that describes the "Panchayat" system is:
A) Manusmriti
B) Arthashastra
C) Dharmashastra
D) Mahabharata
46. The Harappan city that was known for its advanced urban planning is:
A) Mohenjo-Daro
B) Harappa
C) Lothal
D) Kalibangan
47. The Vedic god who was associated with the wind is:
A) Agni
B) Indra
C) Vayu
D) Varuna
48. The ancient Indian scientist who discovered the concept of "Gravity" is:
A) Aryabhata
B) Varahamihira
C) Brahmagupta
D) Bhaskara
49. The Mauryan administrator who introduced the concept of "Taxation" is:
A) Kautilya
B) Chanakya
C) Ashoka
D) Brihadratha
50. The ancient Indian medical practitioner who wrote the book "Charaka Samhita" is:
A) Charaka
B) Sushruta
C) Vagbhata
D) Dhanvantari
Answers